Yarn cleaning roller assembly for textile yarn processing machine

ABSTRACT

A cleaning roller assembly for a textile yarn processing machine for cleaning dust and undesirable particles from the yarn. The assembly comprises a pair of rotatable cooperating roller discs forming a groove therebetween for receiving yarn therearound to frictionally clean the yarn. The assembly further includes a funnel-shaped air suction conduit secured to and surrounding one of the roller discs and extending coaxially from the axis of rotation of the roller discs for rotation with the roller disc, and a stationary air conduit mounted coaxially with and extending from the rotary funnel-shaped suction conduit and being in cooperative suction communication therewith. By the above assembly, an air suction stream is created which flows from around the yarn receiving and cleaning groove coaxially with the axis of rotation of the roller discs to eliminate undesirable accumulations of dust and other particles which might cause clogging and prevent free rotation of the roller disc.

iiiiited States Patent Fink 1 Sept. 1973 YARN CLEANING ROLLER ASSEMBLY FOR Primary Examiner-John Petrakes TEXTILE YARN PROCESSING MACHINE Assistant ExaminerC. K. Moore [75] Inventor: Heinz Fink, Krefeld, Germany Attorney-Samuel Layton b [73] Assignee:- Palitex Project-Company GmbHl,

Krefeld, Germany ABSTRACT [22] Fil d; J 3, 1972 A cleaning roller assembly for a textile yarn processing machine for cleaning dust and undesirable particles [21] Appl' 260,857 from the yarn. The assembly comprises a pair of rotatable cooperating roller discs forming a groove therebe- [30] Foreign Applicatiun Priority Data tween for receiving yarn therearound to frictionally June 12, 1971 Germany P 2| 29 260.4 Clea" i assembly further includes shaped air suction conduit secured to and surrounding one of the roller discs and extending coaxially from the axis of rotation of the roller discs for rotation with the Cl 15/308 421 roller disc, and a stationary air conduit mounted coaxially with and extending from the rotary funnel-shaped [58] Fieldof Search 15/306 A, 308; 1

a I 28/55 57/34 5 56 suction conduit and being in cooperative suction communication therewith. By the above assembly, an air suction stream is created which flows from around the [56] References Cited yarn receiving and cleaning groove coaxially with the UNITED STATES PATENTS axis of rotation of the roller discs to eliminate undesir- 3,145,409 8/1964 Davey at al 15/306 A able accumulations of dust and other particles which 3,258,943 7/1966 Claiborne 15/ A X might cause clogging and prevent free rotation of the 3,270,397 9/1966 Ingham et a]. 15/306 A x roller disc 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures A5 52 5O f35 Y H 56 57 3 r- 5 33 Patented Sept. 4, 1973 3,755,849

3 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Sept. 4, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 4, 1973 3,755,849

3 Sheets-Sham 5 YARN CLEANING RGLLER ASSEMBLY FOR TEXTILE YARN PROCESSING MACHINE This invention relates to a cleaning roller assembly for textile yarn which is adapted to be positioned tangentially in the path of yarn traveling through a textile yarn processing machine, such as a twister, spinning frame or the like, for cleaning dust and other undesirable particles from the yarn; and more specifically to such a cleaning roller assembly which eliminates undesirable accumulations of dust and other particles which might cause clogging and prevent free rotation of the roller assembly.

In yarn processing machines, such as twisters, spinning frames and the like, yarn being processed thereon often contains undesirable dust, dirt, lint and other undesirable foreign particles which hinder the yarn processing operation and lower the quality of the processed yarn. Various devices have been previously proposed for cleaning the yarn during yarn processing op.- erations in yarn processing machines. These prior devices have included baffle pins inserted in the path of yarn by which the yarn is imparted multiple changes in direction and thereby subjected to a frictional scraping action for cleaning of the yarn. Also, rollers have been proposed around which the yarn is looped and which frictionally cleans the yarn as it passes therearound. Some of these previously proposed cleaning rollers have included air suction devices for removing the dust and other undesirable foreign particles cleaned from the yarn. However, all of the prior art suction devices utilized with such cleaning rollers have created a suction air stream generally tangentially of the cleaning rollers which has caused considerable problems inasmuch as the dust and other foreign particles produced in the bottom of the cleaning rollers must first pass radially to. the periphery of the rollers before they can enter the suction air stream. The result of these devices has been clogging of the cleaning rollers and inadequate suction removal of the dust and other foreign particles cleaned from the yarn.

Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide an improved cleaning roller assembly for textile yarn being processed in a textile yarn processing machine for cleaning dust and other undesirable particles from the yarn and which eliminates undesirable accumulations of dust and other foreign particles which might cause clogging and prevent the free rotation of the cleaning roller mechanism.

It has been found by this invention that the above object may be accomplished by a cleaning roller assembly which creates an air suction stream which flows around a yarn receiving and cleaning groove formed by a pair of rotatable cooperating roller discs and which flows from such groove coaxially with the axis of rotation of the roller discs.

This is accomplished in the present invention by providing a cleaning roller assembly comprising a pair of freely rotatably mounted, cooperating roller disc means having opposed faces forming a groove therebetween for receiving a running length of traveling yarn therearound to frictionally clean dust and other undesirable particles from the yarn as the yarn travels therearound. The assembly further includes a generally funnel-shaped, air suction conduit means secured to andsurrounding the outer periphery of one of the roller disc means and extending coaxially from the axis of rotation of the roller disc means for rotation with the roller disc means and for creating an air suction within and around the yarn receiving groove to remove the dirt and other particles cleaned from the yarn. The assembly also includes a stationary air suction conduit means mounted coaxially with and extending from the rotary, funnel-shaped suction conduit means and being in cooperative suction communication therewith for receiving the dust and other particles therefrom. The two cooperating rotary and stationary air suction conduit means create an air stream from within and around the yarn receiving and cleaning groove which flows coaxially with respect to the axis of rotation of the roller disc means from the groove and thereby provides complete dust and other foreign particle removal from the rotary roller discs and eliminates any clogging in the assembly which might prevent the free rotation of the roller discs.

Some of the objects and advantages of this invention have been stated, other objects and advantages will appear from the following more detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying.

drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one spindle assembly station of a textile yarn processing machine including the improved cleaning roller assembly of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view of the cleaning roller assembly utilized in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the cleaning roller assembly of FIG. I and taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, like FIG. 3, illustrating a modified form of the cleaning roller assembly;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, like FIG. 3, illustrating another modified form of the cleaning roller assembly; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, like FIG. 3, illustrating still another modified form of cleaning roller assembly;

Referring now to the drawings, one spindle assembly station of a textile yarn 2-for-1 twister machine is illustrated in FIG. I. It is to be understood that a number of these spindle assembly stations are included in each twister machine.

The spindle assembly station illustrated in FIG. I generally includes a spindle assembly It) for carrying a package P of yarn Y in which the yarn Y is withdrawn from the package P and processed by twisting in a manner well understood by those with ordinary skill in the art. The yarn Y is led from the spindle assembly 10 through a pigtail guide 12 and looped around the cleaning roller assembly of this invention, generally indicated at 14 and to be described more specifically hereinafter. From the cleaning roller assembly M, the yarn Y is led around a pre-take-up roller 16 and to a traversing device 18 from which it is wound onto a package roll 261i carrying a suitable bobbin or carrier for receiving the traversely wound yarn Y after it has been twisted or processed. The package roll 20 is rotated by a drive roll 21 in a manner well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring now to the common details of the cleaning roller assemblies 14 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, FIG.

4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, these roller assemblies 14 comprise a pair of integral, freely rotatably mounted, cooperating roller discs 30 and 31 having generally frustoconical shaped opposed faces 32 and 33 which form a groove 35 therebetween for receiving a running length of traveling yarn Y therearound as the yarn Y passes through the spindle assembly station, illustrated in FIG. 1, to frictionally clean dust and other undesirable particles from the yarn as the yarn travels therearound. The frusto-conical shaped faces 32 and 33 of roller disc means 30 and 31 include inside corrugated peripheries 36 and 37, respectively, which are in abutting relationship and form the bottom of the grooves 35. As the yarn Y passes around the bottom of the groove Y, it will engage the corrugated peripheries 36 and 37 for additional frictional contact to aid in the friction cleaning action and removal of dust and other foreign particles. The roller discs 30 and 31 are secured together in any suitable manner at the opposed inner faces.

The roller disc 30 is preferably of smaller diameter than the roller disc 31 and is secured to a generally funnel-shaped, air suction conduit 40 which surrounds the outer periphery of the roller disc 30 and is secured thereto by radially extending ribs 41 which are spaced apart and define air suction openings 42 therebetween. The funnel-shaped air suction conduit 40 extends coaxially from the axis of rotation of the roller discs 30 and 31 for rotation with the roller discs and for creating an air suction within and around the yarn receiving and cleaning groove 35 to remove the dirt and other particles cleaned from the yarn Y. By being disposed around the roller disc 30, the air suction conduit 40 creates a suction air stream completely around the yarn receiving groove 35 and removes dirt and other foreign particles cleaned from the yarn axially from the rotating discs 30 and 31 by an air suction conduit which rotates therewith and thereby eliminates any accumulations of this dirt and other foreign particles which might interfere with the operation and cleaning of the roller assembly 14.

The rotary funnel-shaped air suction conduit 40 is in cooperative suction communication with a stationary air suction conduit 45 so that the dust and other foreign particles removed from the groove 35 by the rotary funnel-shaped air suction conduit 40 will be received in the stationary air suction conduit 45. The air suction conduit 45 is mounted on a stationary frame portion 46 which is preferably hollow and is connected with a suitable source of suction and forms the final disposal air suction conduit for the dust and other foreign particles cleaned from the yarn Y. The frame 46 and the air suction conduit formed thereby may extend between and form a common air suction conduit removal system for a plurality of cleaning roller assemblies 14 mounted within a plurality of spindle assembly stations, as shown in FIG. 1. The source of suction air may be any convenient source.

Referring now to the specific features of the embodiment of the cleaning roller assembly 14 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotary roller discs 30 and 31 and the integral funnel-shaped air suction conduit 40 are mounted for rotation by a circular ball bearing assembly 50 which is secured to the outside surface of the funnel-shaped rotary air suction conduit 40 and are also secured to the inside surface of a hollow, generally cylindrical holder member 52 which telescopes over the narrow end of the rotary funnel-shaped air suction conduit member 40. The hollow, generally cylindrical holder member 52 is mounted on the end of an arm 53 which is secured to the frame 46.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, the stationary air conduit 45 includes an extension 55 which is telescopingly secured by a forced fit or otherwise in the forward end of the stationary conduit 45 and extends therefrom and is secured within the rear end of the hollow holder 52 by a forced fit or other suitable connection. The extension 55 telescopingly receives with clearance the rear small end of the funnel-shaped rotary conduit 40 so as to provide an air suction stream communication. All of the conduits 45, 55 and 40 extend coaxially from the axis of rotation of the roller discs 30 and 31.

Referring to the specific features of the roller disc assembly 14 of FIG. 4 which differ from those abovedescribed, this assembly 14 includes a hollow, generally cylindrical holder member 60 which is secured to the outside surface of the stationary air suction conduit 45 and includes a circular ball bearing assembly 61 secured thereto and secured to the generally funnelshaped rotary air suction conduit 40 for allowing free rotation of the funnel-shaped air suction conduit 40 and the roller discs 30 and 31. In this embodiment, the forward end of the stationary air suction conduit 45 telescopingly receives with clearance the rear smaller end of the funnel-shaped air suction conduit 40.

Referring now to the specific details of the cleaning roller assembly 14 illustrated in FIG. 5 which differ from the embodiments described above, this roller assembly 14 includes a hollow, generally cylindrical holder member having a circular ball bearing assembly 71 secured to the inside surface thereof and which is secured to the outside surface of the funnel-shaped rotary air suction conduit 40 for allowing free relative rotation of the funnel-shaped air suction conduit 40 and the roller discs 30 and 31. The holder 70 of this embodiment is secured to an arm 75 which is in turn secured to the stationary frame 46. In this embodiment, the stationary air suction conduit 45 includes an extension 73 which is telescopingly secured by forced fit or otherwise within the forward end of the stationary conduit 45 and includes an enlarged forward end for telescopingly receiving with clearance the rear smaller end of the rotary funnel-shaped conduit 40 for allowing rotation of the funnel-shaped conduit 40 with respect thereto and for providing the air suction communication between the conduits.

Referring now to the specific details of the cleaning roller assembly 14 of FIG. 6 which differ from those described above, this embodiment includes a support for the roller discs 30 and 31 and the integral funnelshaped conduit 40 which comprises a circular roller bearing assembly secured within a cavity of a stationary frame portion 81 which may form part of the yarn processing machine or otherwise. A collar 82 is secured to the inside of the roller bearing assembly 80 and includes a pin 83 extending therethrough. The pin 83 includes a threaded portion on one end thereof with a nut 84 and a head 85 on the other end thereof. The pin 83 extends through an aperture in both of the roller discs 31 and 30 and the head 85 is disposed on the other side of the roller disc 30. Thus, in this embodiment, the roller discs 30 and 31 and the funnel-shaped air conduit 40 are supported for rotation from the roller disc 31 side of the assembly.

This embodiment also includes an extension 87 which is telescopingly secured by forced fit or otherwise within the forward end of the stationary conduit 45 and includes an outer tapered end for telescopingly receiving with clearance the rear smaller end of the rotary funnel-shaped conduit 40, which is also tapered, for allowing rotation of the funnel-shaped conduit 44) with respect thereto and for providing the air suction communication between the conduits.

Also included in the embodiment of FIG. 6 and which may be included in all of the other embodiments is a generally conical shaped hub 90 which may form a part of the roller disc 30 and which extends into the mouth of the funnel-shaped air suction conduit 40 so that the air passage through the wide portion of the funnel-shaped conduit 40 is equal to that through the narrow portion of the conduit 40 and thereby prevents uneven suction air flow.

Thus it may be seen, that the various embodiments of the cleaning roller assemblies of this invention all have the common feature of the use of an air suction conduit means which rotates with the rotating yarn cleaning roller discs and which creates an air suction stream completely around the yarn receiving and cleaning groove formed by the roller disc and which flows from the groove coaxially with the axis of rotation of the roller discs to eliminate any accumulation of dust or other particles which might cause clogging and prevent the free rotation of the roller discs.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth preferred embodiments of this invention and, although specific terms have been employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:

1. A cleaning roller assembly for textile yarn adapted to be positioned tangentially in the path of yarn traveling through a textile yarn processing machine for cleaning dust and other undesirable particles from the yarn; said cleaning roller assembly comprising:

a pair of freely rotatably mounted, cooperating roller disc means having opposed faces forming a groove therebetween for receiving a running length of traveling yarn therearound to frictionally clean dust and other undesirable particles from the yarn as the yarn travels therearound;

a generally funnel-shaped, air suction conduit means secured to and surrounding the outer periphery of one of said roller disc means and extending coaxially from the axis of rotation of said roller disc means for rotation with said roller disc means and for creating an air suction within and around said yarn receiving groove to remove the dirt and other particles cleaned from the yarn; and

a stationary air suction conduit means mounted coaxially with and extending from said rotary, funnelshaped suction conduit means and being in cooperative suction communication therewith for receiving the dust and other particles therefrom;

whereby an air suction stream is created which flows from around said yarn receiving and cleaning groove coaxially with the axis of rotation of said roller disc means to eliminate undesirable accumulations of dust and other particles which might cause clogging and prevent the free rotation of said roller disc means.

2. A cleaning roller assembly, as set forth in claim 1, in which said opposing faces of said roller disc means are generally frusto-conical shaped and include inside corrugated peripheries in abutting relationship forming the bottom of said yarn receiving groove to aid in the frictional cleaning action.

3. A cleaning roller assembly, as set forth in claim 1, in which one of said roller disc means is of smaller diameter than the other, and in which said funnel-shaped, air suction conduit means surrounds said smaller diameter roller disc means and is secured thereto by radially extending, spaced apart ribs defining air suction opening therebetween to create an air suction stream within and around said yarn receiving groove.

d. A cleaning roller assembly, as set forth in claim 1, including stationary frame means, a hollow holder means carried by said frame means for receiving said funnel-shaped air suction conduit means for supporting same and for supporting said roller disc means, and bearing means carried by said holder means and secured to said funnel-shaped air suction conduit means for mounting same for rotation.

5. A cleaning roller assembly, as set forth in claim 1, including a hollow holder means carried by said stationary air suction conduit means and extending forwardly thereof for receiving said generally funnelshaped, air suction conduit means for supporting same and for supporting said roller disc means, and bearing means carried by said holder means and secured to said funnel-shaped air suction conduit means for mounting same for rotation.

6. A cleaning roller assembly, as set forth in claim 1, including stationary frame means: and bearing means carried by said frame means and :secured to the other of said roller disc means opposite said funnel-shaped, air suction conduit for supporting said roller disc means and said funnel-shaped air conduit means for rotation.

7. A cleaning roller assembly, as set forth in claim ll, including a generally conical shaped hub extending into said funnel-shaped air suction conduit means for creating a more even air suction stream therethrough.

8. A cleaning roller assembly, as set forth in claim 1, in which said stationary air suction conduit means includes on the cooperating end thereof for telescopingly receiving with clearance the cooperating end of said rotating, generally funnel-shaped, air suction conduit 

1. A cleaning roller assembly for textile yarn adapted to be positioned tangentially in the path of yarn traveling through a textile yarn processing machine for cleaning dust and other undesirable particles from the yarn; said cleaning roller assembly comprising: a pair of freely rotatably mounted, cooperating roller disc means having opposed faces forming a groove therebetween for receiving a running length of traveling yarn therearound to frictionally clean dust and other undesirable particles from the yarn as the yarn travels therearound; a generally funnel-shaped, air suction conduit means secured to and surrounding the outer periphery of one of said roller disc means and extending coaxially from the axis of rotation of said roller disc means for rotation with said roller disc means and for creating an air suction within and around said yarn receiving groove to remove the dirt and other particles cleaned from the yarn; and a stationary air suction conduit means mounted coaxially with and extending from said rotary, funnel-shaped suction conduit means and being in cooperative suction communication therewith for receiving the dust and other particles therefrom; whereby an air suction stream is created which flows from around said yarn receiving and cleaning groove coaxially with the axis of rotation of said roller disc means to eliminate undesirable accumulations of dust and other particles which might cause clogging and prevent the free rotation of said roller disc means.
 2. A cleaning roller assembly, as set forth in claim 1, in which said opposing faces of said roller disc means are generally frusto-conical shaped and include inside corrugated peripheries in abutting relationship forming the bottom of said yarn receiving groove to aid in the frictional cleaning action.
 3. A cleaning roller assembly, as set forth in claim 1, in which one of said roller disc means is of smaller diameter than the other, and in which said funnel-shaped, air suction conduit means surrounds said smaller diameter roller disc means and is secured thereto by radially extending, spaced apart ribs defining air suction opening therebetween to create an air suction stream within and around said yarn receiving groove.
 4. A cleaning roller assembly, as set forth in claim 1, including stationary frame means, a hollow holder means carried by said frame means for receiving said funnel-shaped air suction conduit means for supporting same and for supporting said roller disc means, and bearing means carried by said holder means and secured to said funnel-shaped air suction conduit means for mounting same for rotation.
 5. A cleaning roller assembly, as set forth in claim 1, including a hollow holder means carried by said stationary air suction conduit means and extending forwardly thereof for receiving said generally funnel-shaped, air suction conduit means for supporting same and for supporting said roller disc means, and bearing means carried by said holder means and secured to said funnel-shaped air suction conduit means for mounting same for rotation.
 6. A cleaning roller assembly, as set forth in claim 1, including stationary frame means and bearing means carried by said frame means and secured to the other of said roller disc means opposite said funnel-shaped, air suction conduit for supporting said roller disc means and said funnel-shaped air conduit means for rotation.
 7. A cleaning roller assembly, as set forth in claim 1, including a generally conical shaped hub extending into said funnel-shaped air suction conduit means for creating a more even air suction stream therethrough.
 8. A cleaning roller assembly, as set forth in claim 1, in which said stationary air suction conduit means includes on the cooperating end thereof for telescopingly receiving with clearance the cooperating end of said rotating, generally funnel-shaped, air suction conduit means. 